Can-opener.



No. @$5,043A

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C A N 0 P E N E R.

Application tiled Feb. B, 1901.)

(No Model.)-

TH: Nonms Farms co.. vnowumn WASHINGTON. n. c,

UNiTsD Srnfrns DAVID M. HAYWORTH,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAN-OPENER SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 695,048, dated March 1 1, 1902. Application filed February 8, 1901. Serial No. 116,467. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may cm2/cern:

Be it known that I, DAVID M. I-IAYwoRrH,

' a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented'certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in can openers or cutters; and the object of the improvements is to provide a device of this character of simple and economical form and one which will cut easily and cleanly a can of any size and of any thickness of tin.

Further objects are to make a cutter that can be easily adjusted to cut openings of dif ferent diameters, avoiding the use of setscrews and at the same time preventing any slipping of the cutting-blade when once adjusted, and to hold up the section being cut Y until it is entirely severed, thus preventing it from being pushed or dropped down into the contents of the can.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application, Figure l shows my improved cutter in operation. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the body and handle of the device, shown in position to be inserted in the top of a can. Fig. 3 is a view on the same lines as Fig. 2, but the cuttingblade is shown in operative position. Fig. A is a perspective view of the cutting-blade. Fig. 5 is a detail, on an enlarged scale, of the point of the cutting-blade, showing its pe- Y culiar contour.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the body or main portion of the cutter, which is composed of a thin fiat bar of steel, having at its forward end a spur a', adapted to beinserted in the center of the top of the can to be cut, and at the opposite end a suitable grasping portion or handle a. A portion of the body of the cutter has formed therein a longitudinal slot a2, in whichfits and is adjustable a cutting-blade B. This blade is formed of flat steelsomewhat thinner than the portion A and is bent upon itself and tempered so as to give the lower portion, carrying the cutting point or head b, the requisite hardness and to effect a certain spring or resilience in the upper portion. J ust back of the cutting-point is a shoulder b2, which bears on the under side of the bar A when therblade is in operative position, and thus prevents the latter from slipping. The end of the upper portion of the blade is bent down at right angles and extends into the slot a2, the sides of said bent portion abutting against Athe walls of the slot and cooperating with the wedge-shaped in its vertical diameter, thus serving to force apart the newly-severed edges of the can and prevent their binding on the cutting edge. The eXtreme point b is somewhat rounded, so that it will easily slide under the top of the can while serving as a support therefor. Furthermore, the cutting portion is set at a slight angle to the plane of the adjacent portions of the blade, so that it cuts at an angle to the direct line of movement of the device, which describes a circle, thus getting a shearing cut instead of a straight cut, and securing the well-known advantages of such cut in decreased resistance to the forward movement of the tool.

In using the device the point a is inserted through the center of the can, when the blade B is in the position shown in Fig. 2. Said blade is then moved along in the slot a? until it is near the edge of the can or at such other point as might be desired to have the can cut, when the point b is pushed down through the can by bringing the bar A to a horizontal position. The blade B is then brought to the position shown in Fig. 3, whereupon the edge of the can-top will rest. in the notch b3. The

operator will then rotate the device about its point a', cutting a circular opening in the can. When the cut is finished, the blade B is returned to a vertical position and the de vice can be readily removed.

IOO

Having thus described myinvention,-what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a can-opener, the combination of abar provided with a suitable handle and with a spur adapted to be inserted through the can,

land having alongitudinal slot therein, and

provided with a suitable handle and with a spur adapted to be inserted through the can, and having a longitudinal slot therein, and a cutting-blade having a spring member, a

beveled and notched cutting edge and a portion adapted to slide under the top of the can, said cutting-blade slidably adjustable in said slot and having portions adapted to frictionally engage the opposite faces of the bar when' said blade is in operative position, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. DAVID M. HAYWORTH. Witnesses:

F. BENJAMIN, LENA G. SNOW. 

